In The News

Fort Gordon won’t see construction funds for a new cyber instructional and network center diverted to build a border wall, the area’s Republican congressman confirmed Monday.

Two cyber-related construction projects at the Army base appeared on a list of hundreds of military appropriations at risk if President Donald Trump’s emergency declaration leads to those funds being diverted to build a wall at the Mexican border

The at-risk projects on a list circulated by Senate Democrats last month included the $99 million Cyber Instructional Facility and Network Center and the $90 million Cyber Protection Team Ops Facility.

On Monday, a spokesman for U.S. Rep. Rick Allen said that according to Department of Defense criteria, military construction contracts already awarded or with fiscal year 2019 award dates will not be affected by potential cuts for the wall.

The team ops facility was a fiscal year 2017 project that already was awarded. The instruction facility is also safe, with a bid award set for June and construction to begin in August, said Allen press secretary Carlton Norwood.

Also free from impact are military housing, barracks or dormitory projects and any project with an award date before Sept. 30, 2019, according to Department of Defense criteria.

Allen has aligned with Trump on most issues, including the president’s decision to declare immigration from Central America a national emergency, which would allow military construction funds to be diverted to build a border barrier.

The location of U.S. Army Cyber Command at Fort Gordon is a major economic driver, bringing thousands of civilian and military personnel to the area. The announcement prompted the state’s $100 million investment in the Georgia Cyber Center in downtown Augusta.